May/June 2004

ONE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

Walk by Faith

There is a story in Mark 2:1-12 about a lame man whose friends believed that Jesus could heal him. They found a way to get their friend before Jesus by opening the roof and letting him down by ropes attached to his bed. But Jesus didn’t heal the man’s lameness—he forgave his sins.
The teachers of the law didn’t like that, and with good cause. How could a mere man forgive sins, something that only God had authority to do? Jesus knew their thoughts, and he asked them a question, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven, or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?”
It’s a rhetorical question. Both statements would be impossible for anyone but God. If Jesus had authority to make the lame walk, then he also had authority to forgive sins, because the power to do either was in God’s domain, not humanity’s.
Today, a team of doctors might be able to restore the ability to walk to people with certain kinds of problems. Even after the
operation, however, the person would still need a long period of therapy and rehabilitation. But no one, not even the finest doctor, can simply say, “Rise up and walk,” and cause it to happen.
Which Is Easier?
Which is easier to say to a paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Rise up and walk”?
It seems to me that “Your sins are forgiven” is easier. Why? Sins are between people and God, and their forgiveness is therefore invisible, like God is invisible. You can’t see or taste the forgiveness of sins. You can see a leg that’s fixed. It’s physical. You can see the withered leg; you can see the whole leg; you can see the difference.
Anyone can say, “Your sins are forgiven,” and there is no immediate evidence that the person is a fraud. If someone says to a paralytic, “Get up and walk,” the evidence for or against the person’s authority over sin is immediate and visible to all.
Evidence
The forgiveness of sins is something that becomes real to us as we believe it, not as we see it. The lame man in this story could not see his forgiveness; he could only decide whether to believe that what Jesus said was true. To believe it would lift a great burden of guilt and fear from his shoulders. To not believe it would leave him feeling the same old estrangement, alienation from God and fearful expectation of judgment.
The man’s joy in being forgiven was experienced through faith, not through sight. The healing of his legs, on the other hand, was experienced through sight—he didn’t need faith to walk; he simply had to get up.
Either way, it takes God, for no human could heal the legs or forgive the sins. That was Jesus’ point. Jesus healed the man to show that when he says, “Your sins are forgiven,” they really are forgiven.
By Grace Through Faith
Salvation is by grace through faith. We receive it by grace—we don’t do anything to get it. It’s God’s gift to us. We don’t get any document, title or deed as proof that it is done. We just have to believe it or not believe it.
If we don’t believe the gospel—this amazing good news that in Christ’s life, death and resurrection we are saved—how can we experience that salvation? Unless we believe the gospel is true, we will go on living as though Christ had not died and been raised for us.
Can God heal our physical ailments? Yes. Does he heal the physical ailments of everyone who asks? No. What does he say to everyone who asks? He says what he said to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Which is more important?
— J. Michael Feazell

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